LAUREATE WILL TRANSCEND TOWARDS ELEVATING MALAYSIA AS REGIONAL EDUCATION HUB

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's aspiration to become a
regional education hub received its strongest vote of confidence yet when
Laureate International Universities, the world's largest private education
network, officially moved its Asian regional base from Hong Kong to Kuala
Lumpur Wednesday.

Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said it was
gratifying that Laureate had made this strategic move as it was a clear signal
that the Malaysian education sector was moving in the right direction.

"Through the National Higher Education Strategic Plan, we are paving the way
towards a holistic transformation of our higher education environment, not only
to be world class in nature, but also be the best in the region.

"Apart from developing efficiencies in the system where the potential of
higher education as a service sector will contribute towards the economy, it is
also a part of our bid to win a stake in the global knowledge economy," he said
at the launch of Laureate Education Asia Ltd Regional Office here.

Laureate International Universities has a presence in 21 countries globally,
with more than 50 institutions and currently serving over 550,000 students.

He said private higher education system in the country must grow in tandem
with the needs of the nation and would contribute positively towards knowledge
development and the economic prosperity of the nation.

"And this is where I see the role of international players in helping us
develop our higher education system, where they bring with them their experience
as well as credibility based on their standings in the global education arena.

"For instance, organizations like Laureate have a wealth or resources to
share such as best practices, resources, methodologies and much more," he said.

Khaled also witnessed a signing of memorandum of agreement between
University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia and INTI Education Group at the
ceremony.

UOW will become the exclusive Australian education provider for the
Malaysian based INTI Education Group which became a member of the Laureate
International Universities network in 2008.

Khaled said the ministry was currently at the stage of evaluating the
application of upgrading the status of INTI University College (INTI-UC) to a
university.

"We will take into consideration, the fact that INTI is a member of
Laureate, when we evaluate the application," he said.

-- BERNAMA



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